Digital Modes

I posted this on the Elecraft Reflector 2/16/08, but added a few updates since then.

Connections:
Audio: Line in and out (two wires) K3 to PC's extra sound board (Audigy by Creative).
Audio: Stereo phones (one wire) K3 to PC's built-in sound on motherboard.
Stereo speakers: Connected to PC's built-in sound.
RS-232 cable that I made for the K2.

Software:
Ham Radio Deluxe (latest beta required, build 1766)
DM780 (part of HRD)

Configuration:
1. PC system sound set for the built-in motherboard audio (Control Panel setting). I hear the PC's beeps AND the K3's audio. When I connect to the K3's phone jack (and ONLY this jack), I can press the AFX button and hear the K3's "pseudo stereo," which is really quite a nice feature.
2. The XP sliders for volume, etc, pertain to the speaker's audio.
3. When setting up HRD/DM780, I specify the Audigy sound card, and control volume/mic gain within HRD/DM780. Having a second sound card really makes configuration easy AND allows me to listen to pseudo stereo on the speakers (not possible with one sound card).
4. PTT is done in software. I don't need to fuss with a PTT line to transmit. (Can't use Digipan for PTT this way, but I'm really coming to like HRD more as I get more familiar with it.)
5. When I switch from SSB to PSK31, the microphone needs to be set to "Line-in" rather than front panel with bias (it's a main-menu selection).

Remote operation:
Because my radio bench is downstairs in the basement, and my office is on the second floor (more comfortable), I tried early on to set the K3 up so I could go remote. After an extended discussion at http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=9797 ... here's where I landed (at least for now):
1. Setup the K3 as above. No changes for remote operation.
2. The Radio's PC downstairs runs UltraVNC server (Windows 2000 on that PC).
3. Upstairs I connect over my LAN (now with CAT5 cable to downstairs) using VNC. What I see on my monitor is exactly what's on the monitor downstairs. So I just click the buttons in HRD or DM780, carry on a digital QSO just as if I were in the basement. The CAT5 is essential to handle a decent VNC screen that refreshes quickly; 802.11b was way too slow, and I went for the cables (250 feet for $50 at Lowe's) rather than deal with a major wireless upgrade. The waterfall displays proper motion now. Update 2/28/08: Seeing how well the cable ran, I decided to completely upgrade to a giga-bit LAN (router, NICs, switch). What an improvement over the 100 MB/s that I was running!

Yet to do:
1. No audio upstairs yet. IP-Sound worked, but was a major hassle getting it to work smoothly. When I ran the CAT5 cable downstairs, I pulled a second cable with it (250' is a LOT of cable at home). I'm planning to get the Gefen "Audio Extender" to get the audio upstairs using that second cable. Don't need audio with the waterfall, but it is nice to be able to hear other things! Update 2/18/08: I ordered the Gefen EXT-AUD-1000 from Ram Electronics. Update 2/28/08: The Gefen's work and the audio quality is good enough to view and decode the waterfall.

2. At the moment, HRD's ATU and tune buttons don't seem to work. So if I change bands, I can't retune if it's needed (don't need to do this frequently, so it's not a deal breaker). Update: they do work ... it's just hard to tell. See http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=10089 for details.

3. I want to try out the keyboard on CW. Because I'm using the software PTT (see Configuration item above), I discovered that HRD/DM780 wouldn't automatically switch the transmitter on to send code. The fix: Options | Mode-CW | Check box to "use PTT."

Option not selected:
HRD/DM780 can be run directly on my upstairs PC, and connect to the K3 downstairs. I had a huge hassle getting audio upstairs so I could see the waterfall. Again, see http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=9797 for details. IP-Sound just didn't cut it. Perhaps once I install the Gefens, the audio might actually give me a waterfall. Unknown. Aside from that, having two HRDs and two sets of macros, etc, just doesn't make sense; I suppose I could set my upstairs HRD to go to the basement PC for its data and configuration files. Plus I'd need to tinker with audio levels upstairs without being able to see what's happening with the transmitter. Update 2/18/08: With the new Gefen's, I could go this route. Not worth the hassle.

	Alan D. Wilcox Professional Engineer Pennsylvania PE-030370-E
Home Web Sites Amateur Radio Resume/Vita Contact Me	How to configure the K3 for PSK31 I posted this on the Elecraft Reflector 2/16/08, but added a few updates since then. Connections: Audio: Line in and out (two wires) K3 to PC's extra sound board (Audigy by Creative). Audio: Stereo phones (one wire) K3 to PC's built-in sound on motherboard. Stereo speakers: Connected to PC's built-in sound. RS-232 cable that I made for the K2. Software: Ham Radio Deluxe (latest beta required, build 1766) DM780 (part of HRD) Configuration: 1. PC system sound set for the built-in motherboard audio (Control Panel setting). I hear the PC's beeps AND the K3's audio. When I connect to the K3's phone jack (and ONLY this jack), I can press the AFX button and hear the K3's "pseudo stereo," which is really quite a nice feature. 2. The XP sliders for volume, etc, pertain to the speaker's audio. 3. When setting up HRD/DM780, I specify the Audigy sound card, and control volume/mic gain within HRD/DM780. Having a second sound card really makes configuration easy AND allows me to listen to pseudo stereo on the speakers (not possible with one sound card). 4. PTT is done in software. I don't need to fuss with a PTT line to transmit. (Can't use Digipan for PTT this way, but I'm really coming to like HRD more as I get more familiar with it.) 5. When I switch from SSB to PSK31, the microphone needs to be set to "Line-in" rather than front panel with bias (it's a main-menu selection). Remote operation: Because my radio bench is downstairs in the basement, and my office is on the second floor (more comfortable), I tried early on to set the K3 up so I could go remote. After an extended discussion at http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=9797 ... here's where I landed (at least for now): 1. Setup the K3 as above. No changes for remote operation. 2. The Radio's PC downstairs runs UltraVNC server (Windows 2000 on that PC). 3. Upstairs I connect over my LAN (now with CAT5 cable to downstairs) using VNC. What I see on my monitor is exactly what's on the monitor downstairs. So I just click the buttons in HRD or DM780, carry on a digital QSO just as if I were in the basement. The CAT5 is essential to handle a decent VNC screen that refreshes quickly; 802.11b was way too slow, and I went for the cables (250 feet for $50 at Lowe's) rather than deal with a major wireless upgrade. The waterfall displays proper motion now. Update 2/28/08: Seeing how well the cable ran, I decided to completely upgrade to a giga-bit LAN (router, NICs, switch). What an improvement over the 100 MB/s that I was running! Yet to do: 1. No audio upstairs yet. IP-Sound worked, but was a major hassle getting it to work smoothly. When I ran the CAT5 cable downstairs, I pulled a second cable with it (250' is a LOT of cable at home). I'm planning to get the Gefen "Audio Extender" to get the audio upstairs using that second cable. Don't need audio with the waterfall, but it is nice to be able to hear other things! Update 2/18/08: I ordered the Gefen EXT-AUD-1000 from Ram Electronics. Update 2/28/08: The Gefen's work and the audio quality is good enough to view and decode the waterfall. 2. At the moment, HRD's ATU and tune buttons don't seem to work. So if I change bands, I can't retune if it's needed (don't need to do this frequently, so it's not a deal breaker). Update: they do work ... it's just hard to tell. See http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=10089 for details. 3. I want to try out the keyboard on CW. Because I'm using the software PTT (see Configuration item above), I discovered that HRD/DM780 wouldn't automatically switch the transmitter on to send code. The fix: Options \| Mode-CW \| Check box to "use PTT." Option not selected: HRD/DM780 can be run directly on my upstairs PC, and connect to the K3 downstairs. I had a huge hassle getting audio upstairs so I could see the waterfall. Again, see http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=9797 for details. IP-Sound just didn't cut it. Perhaps once I install the Gefens, the audio might actually give me a waterfall. Unknown. Aside from that, having two HRDs and two sets of macros, etc, just doesn't make sense; I suppose I could set my upstairs HRD to go to the basement PC for its data and configuration files. Plus I'd need to tinker with audio levels upstairs without being able to see what's happening with the transmitter. Update 2/18/08: With the new Gefen's, I could go this route. Not worth the hassle.
	Home Web Sites Amateur Radio Resume/Vita Contact Me

How to configure the K3 for PSK31